Classified by DCM Andrews for reasons 1.5 (a), (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) DCM and POL/MILOFF met with the Minister of State
for Defense (Army) Malam Lawal Batagarawa morning of
September 27 to discuss ROE for NAF units in Cote d'Ivoire.
Batagarawa seemed taken by surprise when told of the
deployment of three NAF Alpha Jets, two MI-35 attack
helicopters, weaponry and support personnel to Abidjan. DCM
told Batagarawa that NSA Aliyu Mohammed had informed him of
the deployment on 25 September. Batagarawa then said that
the MI-35s would assist with evacuation efforts and that the
Alpha Jets were there to provide air cover for them. He then
said that the ROE directed NAF forces to act only in
self-defense and to take no other action without specific
authorization from the NCA in Abuja.
2. (C/NF) DATT sources at the MOD, Defense Headquarters,
Nigerian DIA and NAF indicate that the orders to deploy the
NAF to Cote d'Ivoire did not pass through Defense
Headquarters, but went straight to the NAF from the
Presidency. These sources were unaware of the issuance of
any specific ROE. Their orders directed the NAF to deploy to
Cote d'Ivoire with a mission to provide close air support to
the GOCI forces in their operations against the rebels.
These sources indicated NAF assets in Cote d'Ivoire were
directed to take their orders from the GOCI and that the GOCI
was responsible for coordinating operations with any other
country.
3. (C/NF) NOTE: DATT believes it is possible that verbal
instructions may have been given to the NAF commander to
check with the GON before taking any action, and that the
various military headquarters were left out of the loop. END
NOTE.
JETER

Raw content

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002763
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2012
TAGS: MOPS, MASS, NI, IV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ROE FOR NIGERIAN FORCES IN COTE D'IVOIRE
Classified by DCM Andrews for reasons 1.5 (a), (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) DCM and POL/MILOFF met with the Minister of State
for Defense (Army) Malam Lawal Batagarawa morning of
September 27 to discuss ROE for NAF units in Cote d'Ivoire.
Batagarawa seemed taken by surprise when told of the
deployment of three NAF Alpha Jets, two MI-35 attack
helicopters, weaponry and support personnel to Abidjan. DCM
told Batagarawa that NSA Aliyu Mohammed had informed him of
the deployment on 25 September. Batagarawa then said that
the MI-35s would assist with evacuation efforts and that the
Alpha Jets were there to provide air cover for them. He then
said that the ROE directed NAF forces to act only in
self-defense and to take no other action without specific
authorization from the NCA in Abuja.
2. (C/NF) DATT sources at the MOD, Defense Headquarters,
Nigerian DIA and NAF indicate that the orders to deploy the
NAF to Cote d'Ivoire did not pass through Defense
Headquarters, but went straight to the NAF from the
Presidency. These sources were unaware of the issuance of
any specific ROE. Their orders directed the NAF to deploy to
Cote d'Ivoire with a mission to provide close air support to
the GOCI forces in their operations against the rebels.
These sources indicated NAF assets in Cote d'Ivoire were
directed to take their orders from the GOCI and that the GOCI
was responsible for coordinating operations with any other
country.
3. (C/NF) NOTE: DATT believes it is possible that verbal
instructions may have been given to the NAF commander to
check with the GON before taking any action, and that the
various military headquarters were left out of the loop. END
NOTE.
JETER

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